An opening weekend special for BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE, AUDITIONS on Sunday and the 15/16 Season Brochure will arrive soon!

Join us for opening weekend of Jill Turnbow's critically acclaimed one-woman show BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE and get a special opening weekend discount. We need your help to spread the word about our final After Hours show of the season so we're offering $10 tickets to build the buzz. Just click HERE for tickets, enter promo code: iraq and you're in at half the price. Take advantage of this early bird discount THIS WEEKEND ONLY and come see this show!

THE CRITICS AGREE
BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE is based on Jill's real-life experiences entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War in 1991. She relates this personal story with dry humor, hilarious details and all the skill of a seasoned stand-up comic. Jill has performed this show to rave reviews in Los Angeles, New York, Montreal and even here at the Little Theatre for a limited run three years ago. This is comedy worth staying up late for, and a theatrical experience you don't want to miss!

Theatermania.com:
"Every three days, 950 military personnel came aboard to be entertained; they were nearly all men, some of whom had been stationed in the desert for up to a year. After much of the boat's female staff quit, Turnbow was left with only 20 other women, outnumbered 50 to one, sharing sole responsibility with one other (male) comic for standing before the rowdies to make them laugh." (Click HERE for complete review.)

Backstage.com:
"...an affecting show, starting out in the mood of standup comedy and becoming a heartfelt recollection...[Turnbow] avoids any political assessment of that battle, but paints an engrossing picture of the toll of war on ordinary soldiers, ending up as a salute to their courage and patriotism." (Click HERE for complete story.)

Yep. We're talking the real deal here. Click HERE to pick up your half price tickets for this weekend only, Friday and Saturday at 9:45 pm (note the change in time!) and Sunday at 7 pm immediately following THE MUSIC MAN. 

Our first main stage season show of the 2015-2016 Season will be SYLVIA: a modern romantic comedy about a dog, the couple who adopts her, and the comedy that results. Auditions for this wonderful show by A.R. Gurney will be held this Sunday, May 31st, beginning at 4:30 pm.  The director is David Carey Foster, who directed our production of GOOD PEOPLE last season. You can find out more about the show, the characters and download sides for the auditions HERE. Don't miss your chance to be a part of our season opening comedy!

Coming soon to a mailbox near you: the 2015-2016 Season brochure!  If all goes well, all the news that's fit to print about our upcoming 69th Season will land in your mailbox this weekend (or early next week at the latest!) We're giving you MORE of the theatre you LOVE with SIX season shows, SEVEN Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Readings, FOUR After Hours comedies, TWO Academy of Creative Theatre student productions and ONE fabulous Gala Musical, namely CABARET, celebrating 50 years of performances in 2016. You can take a sneak peek at all the shows AND download a season subscription order form right HERE. Season Subscriptions are only available for mail, phone or walk-up purchase (using the form provided) right now. SLOLT staff will fill subscriptions in the order they are received, giving priority seating to renewing subscribers and donors until June 22nd, when online sales will begin. Your season tickets will be sent to you in late June/early July.

Don't get stuck in line waiting for tickets on a sold-out show next year, SUBSCRIBE NOW to ensure your first choice of dates and seats!

The nearly sold-out run of THE MUSIC MAN continues this weekend with shows on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You can click HERE to check availability and buy your tickets online. If we're sold-out, don't despair!  Arrive one hour before show time and place your name on our waiting list. We'll do our best to get you in to see this heartwarming, classic musical!

Thanks for your support of the Little Theatre. It's been an amazing season and we look forward to sharing more great theatre with you next year and an exciting future ahead!

Have a wonderful weekend!
~Patty

THE MUSIC MAN's a HIT, our mid-week UBU show rocked, NO SHAME this Friday and BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE is up next!

The cast and crew of THE MUSIC MAN will go in to their second weekend of performances with two great reviews in their pockets! You can read the entire NEW TIMES review, by Andrea Catanzarite, HERE and Debby Nicklas's TRIBUNE review is not posted as of 10 am this morning, but you can either pick up a print copy, or keep checking the website HERE. Take my word for it, they're both wonderful!

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

The show is breaking records for ticket sales, but I promise, we can still get you in to see this show! Click HERE to purchase your seats online, and if it's sold-out, just come on down to the theatre anyway. We'll have a waiting list at the door beginning one hour before show time, and we're always able to squeeze in  more than a  handful of those patient enough to wait. Whatever you do, don't miss our fabulous season finale musical!

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

Our eighth UBU'S OTHER SHOE STAGED READING for the 2014-15 Season was an absolutely hilarious look at "feminism's foibles." Gina Gionfriddo's 2012 comedy RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN was directed by Jenny Shaheen and featured the talented cast seen in the photos above. Congratulations to cast and crew on a wonderful show and a very successful two-night run. Mark your calendars now for our final UBU staged reading of the season, Edward Albee's THE GOAT (or Who is Sylvia?) on June 19 and 20.

Our final After Hours @slotheatre late night comedy show of the 2014/15 Season will hit the Little Theatre stage on May 29th. We are thrilled to present actress and comedienne Jill Turnbow in her one-woman show BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE. In hilarious and heartwarming detail, the show details Jill’s experiences as a stand-up comic entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Imagine a huge cruise ship moored in the Persian Gulf, brought there to offer “R&R” for troops in the region. Then imagine a young, female, stand-up comic, 27,000 men and an open bar. The result? In Jill's own words: "I had a pretty good time."  We promise you will too.

You can read more about the show in an article at Theatermania right HERE. There's also a review in the LA Times right HERE. And a great piece on the Backstage website HERE.  Yep. We're talking the real deal here. Jill performed a limited run of this show on the Little Theatre stage a few years ago and if you missed that one, do NOT miss this one. Even if you saw that one... see it AGAIN.
There will be six shows only running Fridays and Saturdays at 9:45 pm (note the change in time!) and Sundays at 7 pm immediately following THE MUSIC MAN. I'd recommend you get your tickets NOW to ensure your seats. And you can do that right HERE.

NO SHAME May hits the stage this Friday night after The Music Man. The lobby opens at 9:30 pm, submissions start at 10 pm and get ready for FREE, LIVE, LOCAL, ORIGINAL, late-night theatre beginning at 10:30 pm. I'll be there!

Brochure design by SUBPLOT STUDIO

Coming soon to a mailbox near you....the 2015-2016 SEASON!  To ensure that you receive our fabulous season brochure containing everything you need to know about purchasing season tickets (don't get stranded in the waiting list line next season!) along with detailed information about all the great shows, education programs and more, give us a call at (805) 786-2440 or send us an EMAIL with your mailing address TODAY!  This little gem will be hitting the streets by the end of next week and you don't want to miss out on your copy! You can take a sneak peek at next season's schedule on our website HERE and you can even download a subscription ticket order form, so you can get your order in early and ensure that you get the best seats in the house!

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday weekend to everyone. Be sure to add some live theatre to your weekend plans, along with the traditional BBQ and beach!

~Patty

THE MUSIC MAN has a sold-out opening, RAPTURE opens tomorrow night, and JILL TURNBOW returns with her nationally-recognized one-woman show. Only at the LITTLE THEATRE!

Good morning friends of the Little Theatre,

What an amazing SOLD-OUT opening weekend for The Music Man! The classic musical is the final mainstage production of the Little Theatre's 68th anniversary season. Director/choreographer Zach Johnson and Musical Director Lacey McNamara have created a "valentine" of a production, featuring 28 incredibly talented local actors making up the resident of River City, Iowa! There are only a handful of tickets left for the next four weeks--- if you'd like to see it, click HERE to reserve your tickets today!

The 11th season of Ubu's Other Shoe (the staged reading series at the Little Theatre) only has two productions remaining- don't miss Rapture, Blister, Burn, a hilarious comedy directed by Jenny Shaheen. Rapture plays for TWO NIGHTS ONLY, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19 and 20 at 7:00 PM at the Little Theatre. There will be a talkbalk with the cast and director after the Tuesday night show. To read more about the play and to reserve tickets, please click HERE.

Our inaugural AFTERHOURS@SLO Theatre late night comedy series wraps up with Jill Turnbow's critically-acclaimed Between Iraq and a Hard Place. This hilarious one-woman show first played to sold-out houses at the Little Theatre in 2012- we couldn't be happier to bring it back for a second run! Between Iraq and a Hard Place plays for 6 performances only beginning May 29 at 9:45 PM (directly following The Music Man.) To read more about the show or to get your tickets instantly online, please click HERE.

We're just about done with our most ambitious season ever- 25 plays, 225 performances on 45 out of 52 weekends throughout the year. We couldn't have done it without the support of our 300+ active volunteers- thank you for making this season possible!

2015-210 season tickets are available soon! Click HERE to see what we have in store for the Central Coast next year- you won't want to miss a moment.

Thanks, as always, for your support! Have a great week everyone!

-Kevin

New Times "BEST OF", the Wells Fargo Wagon is a-comin', RAPTURE BLISTER, BURN next Tuesday and JILL TURNBOW!

The annual New Times Best Of poll results are in and you've done it again! Thank YOU for voting us the BEST LOCAL THEATER GROUP for six years running!  In the words of New Times outgoing Arts Editor Jessica Pena:

"SLO Little Theatre isn't just a place to see plays in San Luis Obispo. It's an institution. Since 1947, it's been a consistent source of quality theatre, running more shows than any other theater group on the Central Coast. 'The staff and board of the Little Theatre feel that it's our responsibility to produce the widest variety of theatre possible,' said Kevin Harris, Managing Artistic Director. And that's no lie. This year alone, the Little Theatre has produced a beloved musical, a contemporary drama, and a daring one-woman show. It may be 'little' in name, but not in ambition."

Thank you New Times readers and Little Theatre fans! We promise we'll keep doing our best to bring the magic of live theatre to downtown San Luis Obispo this year, and for many years to come. Speaking of which...

Here it comes. The season finale musical for our 2014-2015 Season. THE MUSIC MAN! Director Zach Johnson, Music Director Lacey McNamara, an incredible production staff and crew and this talented cast of 28 local actors have been working hard for almost two months putting this fabulous show together and it's almost here. This Tony Award winning musical (five Tonys, including Best Musical!) opens this Friday night and you'll kick yourself if you miss it! But if you're going to see it, you'd better hurry, there are less than 200 seats remaining for sale in the entire five-week run! So, what are you waiting for? Click HERE to get your tickets today!  (Hint: Thursday nights are probably your best bet for the best seats and you can also try our waiting lists at the door!)

Tuesday and Wednesday nights may not seem like the usual time to consider going to see a play, but when you've got an amazing staged reading like RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN playing, it's not only a good idea, it's absolutely the best idea I've heard in a long time. Number 8 in our 2014/15 Season of Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Readings is a contemporary comedy by Gina Gionfriddo.  RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN tackles feminism’s foibles in what The New York Times called an, "intensely smart and immensely funny," new play. Director Jenny Shaheen and her talented cast of five local actors will bring Gionfriddo's comedy to life in a staged reading Tuesday, May 19 and Wednesday, May 20 at 7 pm. The price is just $10 and there will be an audience talk-back after Tuesday night's performance. Click HERE for your tickets!

Our final After Hours @slotheatre late night comedy show of the 2014/15 Season will hit the Little Theatre stage on May 29th. We are thrilled to present actress and comedienne Jill Turnbow in her one-woman show BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE. In hilarious and heartwarming detail, the show details Jill’s experiences as a stand-up comic entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. Imagine a huge cruise ship moored in the Persian Gulf, brought there to offer “R&R” for troops in the region. Then imagine a young, female, stand-up comic, 27,000 men and an open bar. The result? In Jill's own words: "I had a pretty good time."  We promise you will too. There will be six shows only running Fridays and Saturdays at 9:30 pm and Sundays at 7 pm. I'd recommend you get your tickets NOW to ensure your seats. And you can do that right HERE.

Photos by Danielle Dutro McNamara Photography

We're heading into an exciting opening weekend!  Hope to see you at THE MUSIC MAN!

~Patty

THE MUSIC MAN: Under Construction. RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN: In Rehearsal. CANCELING CABLE: In Los Osos Friday. 2015-2016 SEASON: On the Way!

We are definitely UNDER CONSTRUCTION this weekend at the Little Theatre. The sounds of a tablesaw, electric drills and hammering mingle with the smell of paint and the voices of volunteer set builders. At the same time, the lobby is full of young voices chattering away as the Academy of Creative Theatre holds auditions in the rehearsal room for THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE; and then, if you hang around until about 6 pm, you can catch a Barbershop quartet warming up out front for Music Man rehearsals. I know, you've heard it before and you'll hear it again: it gets pretty busy around here during the week, even when there's no show scheduled for the weekend!

These are the happy faces of the children featured in The Music Man. Winthrop, Amaryllis, Gracie and Zaneeta posed with their young friends and neighbors during a break from rehearsals. In a little over a week, they'll be dancing across the (completed) stage set, in costume, singing The Wells Fargo Wagon!   Under the skillful hands of director Zach Johnson, the show is coming together bit by bit and will open next Friday night, May 15th. Seats are filling up fast, so I'd recommend making your reservations sooner, rather than later. Not kidding! You can do it right HERE, right NOW.

And no sooner do we open THE MUSIC MAN, but our 8th Ubu's Other Shoe Staged Reading of the season will take the stage mid-week for two shows only, May 19 & 20 at 7 pm. Director Jenny Shaheen has assembled a cast of real pros for Gina Gionfriddo's RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, including Marilyn Blake, David Norum, Robin Kirk Wolf, Joan Pederson and Ashley Moses. This fast-paced, witty comedy explores the continuing fallout and evolution of the feminist movement. You can read an interview with the playwright about the play HERE. 

You don't have to wait for the weekend to enjoy some live theatre, you know! Join us for a mid-week dose of UBU and enjoy a staged reading of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN. You can get your tickets for just $10 right HERE. 

If you missed it before, don't miss it again! On Friday, May 8 at the South Bay Community Center in Los Osos, We're Canceling Cable (And Other Empty Threats) will be resurrected as a benefit for the Monarch Grove PTA. This hilarious look at parenthood is directed by Jill Turnbow and features the talents of Gregory Gorrindo, Alicia Klein, Katie Gucik and Nathan Emmons, with piano accompaniment by Mark Pietri. Original sketches, monologues, and songs explore the hilarious, sometimes cringe-worthy moments that take place on sidelines of soccer fields, behind closed doors of parent-teacher conferences, and within our own living rooms. Get your tickets HERE! (This show features adult language and situations; not exactly appropriate for children.  But why would you bring them? This is your time.)

Are you ready? Are you set?... Then GO!  Plans for the exciting 2015-2016 Season are moving forward rapidly and you are going to LOVE what we have planned for our 69th Season here at the San Luis Obispo Little Theatre!  Season Subscriptions will be available for purchase beginning May 22, but YOU can take a sneak peek at the entire season schedule right HERE. If all goes well, our season brochure will hit your mailbox right around May 27th. What's that? You're not on our mailing list?!  Well, we can't have that. Click HERE to email me and I'll make sure that you get all the news that's fit to print about next season. You won't want to miss a minute!

Like I told you before, it's a DARK weekend here at the Little Theatre, except of course for major rehearsals, set construction, lighting and sound design. But starting next weekend.... you'll be in major TROUBLE if you don't get your tickets for THE MUSIC MAN soon!

Have a great weekend!

~Patty

One more shout-out for COPENHAGEN and have you ever been BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE?

Tonight and tomorrow night only, you can experience a staged reading of the 2000 Tony Award winner for Best Play: COPENHAGEN. What happened when Werner Heisenberg and Niels Bohr met in Copenhagen in 1941? The two physicists had been friends, but were now on opposite sides of a World War. Playwright Michel Frayn (Noises Off) imagines what may have happened in the mysterious wartime meeting between Bohr, Heisenberg, and Bohr's wife and muse, Margrethe.

Directed by John Battalino and featuring Michael Siebrass, Debora Schwartz and Nathan Emmons. Get your tickets HERE.

In my blog post on Wednesday, I neglected to mention our very last AFTER HOURS show of the 2014-2015 Season. Shame on me! Back by popular demand, actress and comedian Jill Turnbow will reprise her one-woman-show about entertaining the troops during the Persian Gulf War of 1991. You do NOT want to miss this one. You can read more about the show in an article at Theatermania right HERE. There's also a review in the LA Times right HERE. And a great piece on the Backstage website HERE.  Yep. We're talking the real deal here. Jill performed a limited run of this show on the Little Theatre stage a few years ago and if you missed that one, do NOT miss this one. Even if you saw that one... see it AGAIN.

Between Iraq and a Hard Place runs May 29-31 and June 12-14. You can get your tickets right HERE.

Hope to see you at Copenhagen this weekend. Have a good one!

~Patty

P.S. NO SHAME TONIGHT AT 10:30 PM!  BE THERE!